Kang Qian Ink Treasures

Author: Gansu Culture
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: The Pure Emperor Qianlong, Aisin Gioro Hongli, the fourth son of Emperor Yongzheng, was born on the 13th day of the eighth month in the 50th year of the Kangxi reign (1712) and ascended the throne on the 23rd day of the eighth month in the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign (1735). His era name was Qianlong, and he ruled for 60 years. During his reign, he implemented policies of light corvée and low taxes, reducing the burden on farmers. He issued five edicts successively, completely exempting the annual tax grain across the empire, which played a significant role in promoting agricultural production and flourishing the economy, earning him great popularity among the people. While developing production, he expanded the territory, reformed the administration, and fostered trade, making the country strong and the treasury full, and the people prosperous. He was a highly accomplished emperor in Chinese history.
Emperor Qianlong had a deep passion for calligraphy and often personally participated in its creation, extensively collecting works by renowned calligraphers of past generations. He gathered the "Quick Snow When Clear" scroll by Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the "Mid-Autumn" scroll by Wang Xuanzhi, and the "Boyuan" scroll by Wang Xun and stored them in the western warm pavilion of the Yangxin Hall. He inscribed the plaque "Three Pines Hall" to show his appreciation. He specially ordered the Grand Secretaries Liang Shizheng and others to compile the "Three Pines Hall Calligraphy Collection," which significantly advanced the development of calligraphy art in the Qing Dynasty. His contributions were unparalleled.
Emperor Qianlong held Wang Xizhi's calligraphy in the highest regard, extensively practicing his style and imitating the essence of his brushwork. He also admired the calligraphy of Zhao Mengfu of the Yuan Dynasty and Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty, among other masters. On the foundation of drawing upon the strengths of others, he developed his own writing style, particularly favoring cursive and semi-cursive scripts. His brushwork was flexible, vigorous, and dynamic, with dense and profound structures. He left behind numerous precious calligraphic treasures for future generations.